Can Authorise Eclipse his elders?
Arguably one of the most intriguing events in the Flat racing calendar, Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse Stakes is always a treat for the purists.
The 10-furlong Sandown contest is worth £440,000 (€652,5000 and usually sees the middle-distance three-year-olds lock horns with their elders at Group One level for the first time in the season.
Some great horses have won this race in recent years, including the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair Hawk Wing and public hero Giant’s Causeway, who earned himself the title of ’Iron Horse’ by virtue of his exceptional battling spirit and will to win.
Falbrav’s success in 2003 also lingers in the memory, but in truth, this showpiece event rarely fails to live up to top billing.
This year’s heat should also draw the crowds, with the exciting Derby hero Authorized all set to take on the mercurial George Washington in a race which will have ’do not miss’ written all over it for any racing fan worthy of the name.
A competitive undercard is highlighted by the totescoop6 Stakes, a one-mile handicap worth a bumper £100,000 (€148,300), and the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Stakes, a five-furlong contest carrying Group Three status.
After watching Miss Andretti and Soldier’s Tale lift the major sprinting prizes at Royal Ascot, it will be interesting to see how Reverence goes on his scheduled return to the fray.
The action at the Esher venue begins 24 hours earlier with the William Ewart Properties Gala Stakes and aAIM Dragon Stakes headlining a card which should whet the appetite for the big one.
Haydock host a competitive three-day affair, with Saturday’s fixture featuring the Lancashire Oaks and Old Newton Cup.
Both races are sure to be well supported with sponsors bet365 stumping up prize money of £85,000 for each.
The usual evening meeting at Windsor will be popular at the start of the week, while the same should be true of Newbury’s Thursday evening fixture.
Sunday’s racing is relatively quiet as usual, although those north of the border can look forward to the Listed E.B.F. Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes at Ayr.
FIXTURES (Flat in capitals)
Monday: GOODWOOD (evening), PONTEFRACT, WINDSOR (evening), WOLVERHAMPTON.
Tuesday: BRIGHTON, HAMILTON, LINGFIELD (evening), THIRSK (evening).
Wednesday: CATTERICK, CHEPSTOW (evening), KEMPTON (evening), Perth, Worcester.
Thursday: HAYDOCK, NEWBURY (evening), Perth, WARWICK (evening), YARMOUTH.
Friday: BEVERLEY (evening), HAYDOCK (evening), SANDOWN, SOUTHWELL, WARWICK.
Saturday: BEVERLEY, CARLISLE (evening), HAYDOCK (CH4), LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM (evening), SANDOWN (CH4).
Sunday: AYR, BRIGHTON, Market Rasen.
